People in Mission Conference 2019 inspires Mission…
CMS-Africa and Church Mission Society CMS conducted a people in Mission Conference for her mission workers in Africa. The Conference that happened at Dimesse Sisters in Karen, Nairobi from 14th-19th October brought together close to 70 people in mission from various countries across Africa who are categorised as Mission Partners, Local Partners, church partners, Country Coordinators, and other friends of both CMS and CMS-Africa.
The participants drawn from far and wide had safe travels to and from the Conference, and while there, engaged in useful conversations around greater collaboration both in the locations they serve and around common ministry themes. The new CMS-Africa and CMS leaders Moses Bushendich and Alastair Bateman led the Bible explosition sessions from Isaiah 43, “ See I am doing a new thing”, and had a great time to meet and interact with the team of mission workers in Africa.
The gathering gave both CMS and CMS-Africa an opportunity to reflect on their key priority areas even as they seek to develop a new strategic plan covering the next five years from 2020-2025. “We are very glad to have a chance to deliberate on how to align our strategic focus areas even as we seek to ascertain points of synergy and potential pitfalls,” says the CMS-Africa International Director Canon Moses Bushendich.
Likewise, the CMS Chief Executive Alistair Bateman said: “Our hope is that the discussions we held at PIM Conference 2019 in Nairobi will inform our work in Africa in coming years even as we seek to engender a symbiotic and logical progression of mission’s work in Africa.” The conference gave an opportunity for the CMS-Africa people in Mission to network and share opportunities and resources with the Mission Partners from the UK who work in the African communities. “Jane and Derrick Waller for instance are interested in the Samaritan Strategy trainings to be introduced in Toliara Diocese in Mozambique,” says CMS-Africa Trainer Stephen Mosheni.
The other output of the conference was that the various country coordinators got a chance to interact with the CMS-Africa trainers. Stephen Mosheni for instance was invited to go train women in Rumonge Diocese, Burundi after Rev. Salvator discovered that he is one of the key trainers for the WOMEN Training. As of the time of publishing this article, Stephen had just returned from Burundi where he trained 30 participants. Some of the women who went through the training have come up with business plans as well as initiative that will go a long way in impacting their lives, families, communities and church in general.
The conference also provided an opportunity for CMS to train the People in Mission in Safeguarding which is a concern for all charities and organization working in with the vulnerable in the community. People in Mission workers were encouraged to have safeguarding measures and policies in their places of work. Rev. Salvator who is the Country Coordinator for Burundi is full of thanks to God for answering his Prayers about roofing the Mahwa Parish church.
The support to buy Iron sheets came through a contact Rev. Salvator made during the PIM Conference. Several Breakaway trainings sessions were conducted during the PIM Conference including story telling through videos and photos, Financial Freedom for Families, Natural medicine, African theology and Member care. African Theology workshop for instance provided the Mission Partners an opportunity to reflect on their worldviews and how that affects their effectiveness in African context.
Can Moses Bushendich challenged the Mission Partners to contextualize Christian beliefs and practices wherever they are sent to serve and not necessarily impose the western worldviews on the local. The Conference also gave the participants and opportunity every evening to share about their work thus enthusing others about supporting and walking alongside what is happening in the various mission centres and communities of best practice.
The participants drawn from far and wide had safe travels to and from the Conference, and while there, engaged in useful conversations around greater collaboration both in the locations they serve and around common ministry themes. The new CMS-Africa and CMS leaders Moses Bushendich and Alastair Bateman led the Bible explosition sessions from Isaiah 43, “ See I am doing a new thing”, and had a great time to meet and interact with the team of mission workers in Africa.
The gathering gave both CMS and CMS-Africa an opportunity to reflect on their key priority areas even as they seek to develop a new strategic plan covering the next five years from 2020-2025. “We are very glad to have a chance to deliberate on how to align our strategic focus areas even as we seek to ascertain points of synergy and potential pitfalls,” says the CMS-Africa International Director Canon Moses Bushendich.
Likewise, the CMS Chief Executive Alistair Bateman said: “Our hope is that the discussions we held at PIM Conference 2019 in Nairobi will inform our work in Africa in coming years even as we seek to engender a symbiotic and logical progression of mission’s work in Africa.” The conference gave an opportunity for the CMS-Africa people in Mission to network and share opportunities and resources with the Mission Partners from the UK who work in the African communities. “Jane and Derrick Waller for instance are interested in the Samaritan Strategy trainings to be introduced in Toliara Diocese in Mozambique,” says CMS-Africa Trainer Stephen Mosheni.
The other output of the conference was that the various country coordinators got a chance to interact with the CMS-Africa trainers. Stephen Mosheni for instance was invited to go train women in Rumonge Diocese, Burundi after Rev. Salvator discovered that he is one of the key trainers for the WOMEN Training. As of the time of publishing this article, Stephen had just returned from Burundi where he trained 30 participants. Some of the women who went through the training have come up with business plans as well as initiative that will go a long way in impacting their lives, families, communities and church in general.
The conference also provided an opportunity for CMS to train the People in Mission in Safeguarding which is a concern for all charities and organization working in with the vulnerable in the community. People in Mission workers were encouraged to have safeguarding measures and policies in their places of work. Rev. Salvator who is the Country Coordinator for Burundi is full of thanks to God for answering his Prayers about roofing the Mahwa Parish church.
The support to buy Iron sheets came through a contact Rev. Salvator made during the PIM Conference. Several Breakaway trainings sessions were conducted during the PIM Conference including story telling through videos and photos, Financial Freedom for Families, Natural medicine, African theology and Member care. African Theology workshop for instance provided the Mission Partners an opportunity to reflect on their worldviews and how that affects their effectiveness in African context.
Can Moses Bushendich challenged the Mission Partners to contextualize Christian beliefs and practices wherever they are sent to serve and not necessarily impose the western worldviews on the local. The Conference also gave the participants and opportunity every evening to share about their work thus enthusing others about supporting and walking alongside what is happening in the various mission centres and communities of best practice.